Head of Recruiting & HR

Recruitment is now open for a new position within the Human Resources Department! Under the direction of the Human Resources (HR) Director, the HR Manager plans, coordinates, and oversees the daily operations of key human resources functions to ensure efficient, equitable, and consistent services across the City. This position leads professional HR staff, administers core operational programs, ensures compliance with laws and policies, and advances the Citys mission, values, and HR strategic priorities.
The HR Manager exercises a high degree of professional judgment; interprets policies and labor agreements; guides City leadership on complex HR matters; and leads modernization and continuous improvement efforts aligned with departmental goals for efficient systems, engaged employees, learning and development, safe operations, and a sustainable talent pipeline.
Lake Stevens is a vibrant and growing community with a population of over 40,000 makes us the 4th largest city in the county.

Lake Stevens is generally a residential community with access to numerous commercial, retail and recreational opportunities. Of course, the crown jewel of the community is the lake itself, which boasts some of the greatest water recreational opportunities in the county. Lake Stevens is also uniquely situated, being close to the lake, ocean, and Cascade mountains, to take advantage of many outdoor activities. The Lake Stevens Schools are excellent and coupled with a city priority of parks and increased walkability, makes Lake Stevens an ideal place to raise a family. The City of Lake Stevens operates under the mayor-council system. The citys motto, One Community Around the Lake, embodies our quality of life, top-ranked school district, and the City Councils commitment to providing excellent services and amenities for its residents.
Retirement- through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.
Excellent healthcare options-including medical, dental, vision insurance, city-paid life insurance and long-term disability, health savings accounts (HSA), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA/VEBA).
Paid leave-including paid sick leave, paid vacation, flexible holidays, paid holidays, and bereavement leave.
Why join the HR Team?
The Human Resources Department supports City of Lake Stevens employees by providing clear policies, reliable guidance, and efficient services that help the organization operate effectively and deliver high-quality service to the community. Our work is guided by a clear set of principles and long-term priorities that shape how we serve employees, departments, and the community. These tools help us stay aligned, transparent, and focused on delivering consistent and high-quality service.
Plans, coordinates, and oversees daily operations of HR functional areas to ensure consistent, timely, and compliant service delivery.
Develops and maintains efficient, streamlined HR processes, procedures, and workflows that meet department goals.
Manages or oversees key department programs, committees, initiatives and commissions as assigned.
Develops and recommends policy updates to ensure clarity, equity, and alignment with City values and departmental strategic priorities.
Prepares department metrics, reports, and analyses for leadership and Council use.
Supervises professional and technical HR staff, including hiring, training, work direction, coaching, performance evaluation, and corrective action.
Advises employees and leadership on interpretation of policies, procedures, labor agreements, and employment laws.
Develops labor strategies and supports collective bargaining processes through analysis, research, costing, and administrative support.
Manages department technology systems; ensures accuracy, workflow efficiency, reporting capability, and data integrity; analyzes data to support planning, compliance, and decision-making.
Monitors and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, and retention requirements.
Collaborates and supports risk, safety, and emergency management division by promoting a culture of safety, risk awareness, and organizational readiness initiatives.
Helps design and deliver training programs that foster a strong learning environment, encourage skill building, and promote leadership development.
Serves as the citys lead negotiator as assigned and/or in the absence of the Director.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to drive a city vehicle in order to travel to multiple city buildings to meet with employees (currently 3 separate buildings within 10 min drive apart). Evening or variable hours to attend meetings is required. Occasional travel for conferences and meetings.
Uses standard office equipment and modern software tools, including cloud-based platforms, workflow automation tools, and AI-enabled applications.
Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Organizational Development, Leadership, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field; Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in Human Resources in multiple functional areas and two (2) years of supervisory or lead experience; HRIS platforms, data management, and reporting practices.
Records management standards and Public Records Act requirements.
Civil service systems, rules, and testing procedures.
Website content management and employee communications.
Principles of supervision, leadership, and organizational development.

Effective recruitment, outreach, testing and selection practices.
Lean Management System or Six Sigma principles.
Embracing change and providing strategic advice to leadership regarding change management.
Attention to detail, being organized and managing multiple priorities while meeting deadlines.
Providing technical information and assistance to others concerning employment policies and personnel transactions.
Preparing and proofreading professional correspondence with proper grammar, spelling and tone.
Using MS Office products including Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
Interpret policies, labor agreements, and employment laws.

Communicate complex information in an effective, accessible and respectful way, both orally and in writing.
Manage and implement the operations, services and activities of the Human Resources department.
Apply lean or six sigma principles to continuously improve processes, procedures and implement change management.
Facilitate effective meetings and training across various audiences.
Professional Human Resources (PHR) or SHRM-CP certification preferred
Applications close at 11:59pm on June 21
Application will be reviewed between June 22-24
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Therefore, it is very important that the Work Experience portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:
Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the References section of the online application; The City of Lake Stevens is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veterans status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. There are no limitations to who's a best fit to serve this community. Please contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io, ten (10) days in advance to allow time for us to make proper arrangements. You're also welcome to mail your request to City of Lake Stevens Human Resources, P.City of Lake Stevens Hiring Statement
The City of Lake Stevens is committed to building a team that reflects the strengths, perspectives, and lived experiences of our growing community. In Lake Stevens, we are most interested in finding candidates who can contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional public service, even if their paths or experiences are nontraditional. The City will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience that supports successful performance in the role. Your unique background may be exactly what helps us serve our community better.

Compensation details: 62.42-78.98 Hourly Wage